What Exactly Is A...Development Researcher?
16 Aug 07
In the first of a series of interviews aiming to highlight the range of people and skills that work in television, RTS Futures talks to Hayley Glass, development researcher at Discovery.
Job title: Development Researcher
Department: Production and Development
Company: Discovery Networks
Describe your job in one sentence
Working with the development producer to manage Discovery's slate of programme ideas, and identifying and researching new territories for development.
What would your average day comprise?
Brainstorm new programme ideas in the genres of factual entertainment. Research subjects to back these ideas up. Write ideas up in proposal form. Find talent to support programme ideas. I also spot interesting stories in the national press and report on these to the rest of the team, as well as analyse at the performance of our competitor channels.
Do you need/use any particular qualifications?
Journalism is helpful
What skills do you think are important for your job?
Confidence, curiosity, initiative, communication and determination.
What do you want to be doing in 3 years time?
Development producer
Which other departments/people do you work with?
Development producer and VP of production.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Brainstorming programme ideas.
What do you enjoy least?
The budget limitations
What’s the most exciting thing you’ve been involved in?
A $50Million company initiative to develop a programme of the future.
Is there an expected career path in your field?
Yes and it's often starting at the bottom and working your way up the ladder.
Who is your hero?
Oprah Winfrey - she built a company from nothing and ended up becoming one of the most influential people in the media.
What advice do you wish you’d been given when you were 18?
Do as much work experience as possible, it's the best way to build contacts.
Do you have a dream job?
To run my own business.
Did you always want to work in this field?
Yes.
Which television program do you wish you’d worked on?
Planet Earth
What was your ‘big break’?
Writing to the editor of BBC Correspondent for work experience, the rest of my career came off the back of it.
